Draft apparatus.



No- 851,903. PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

G. M. SUMMER.

DRAFT APPARATUS. APPLICATION rmm an. 12, mos.

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GEORGE M. SOMMER,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF BRADNER, OHIO.

DRAFT APPARATUS.

Specificatiornof Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed March 12. 1906. Serial No. 305,511.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. Sornunn, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Bradner, in the county of l/Vood and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Draft Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates the well known swingle-tree, and the object of my invention is to provide such a substitute draft apparatus that shall be strong, compact, and simple, and that can readily be attached in place of the usual apparatus now in use.

My invention consists of a pair of jaws adapted to be attached to the cross bar between the thills of the vehicle; a lever for each jaw, the rear arm of each lever being connected to a rod, and the free ends of the rods joined by a turn-buckle; and securing devices to insure the retention of the tugs on the outwardly extending arms of the levers.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates my invention, Figure 1 is a plan of my improved draft apparatus. larged cross section on the 3. Fig. 3 is a plan and Fig. the jaw and lever at one end of my paratus.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, the thills 1 are connected by the cross bar 2. Secured to the cross bar by means of the bolts 3 and 4 are the jaws 5. Pivoted in the jaws on the bolts 4, are the levers 6 and 7, being formed complementary to each other. The rearwardly extending arms 8 are connected to the rods 9 which rods are joined at their inner ends by the turn buckle 18. The laterally extending arms 11 and 12 of these levers are grooved to receive the pivot ends of the arms 13, which carry the latches 14. The arms are rovided with spurs 15 which engage the shou ders 16 in the grooves when swung up to the desired limit of movement.

The latches 14 are adapted to engage the shoulders 17 formed within slots 18 in the ends of the arms 11 and 12. To hold the latches in engagement with these shoulders line AA in Fig. 4 an elevation of draft apto means to replace I Fig. 2 is an en I I 17, I provide springs 19 on the pivots of the j latches as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, 1 which springs tend to hold the lower ends of 1 the latches outward. To prevent themfrom swinging out too far, they are provided with I s urs 20 which contact with the spurs 21 on t 1e arms 13.

The size of the various parts of this device will depend upon the character of the vehicle to which it is attached, and the horses that are used. The width between the lever pivots 4 will depend u on these factors and is accommodated by t e turnbuckle 10. Various changes may be made in the details of I my construction by those skilled in the art I without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now explained my improvements, what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a draft apparatus, the combination of a cross bar, jaws secured near each end of the same, levers pivoted between the jaws,

each lever having a rearwardly and an out wardly extending arm, a rod attached to each rearwardly extending arm, a turnbuckle for joining the ends of the rods, and means to j secure the tugs to the outwardly extending 1 arms.

2. In a draft apparatus, the combination k of a cross bar, jaws secured near each end of the same, levers pivoted between the jaws, each lever having a rearwardly and an outwardly extending arm, means to connect the j rearwardly extending arms, said outwardly projecting arms being each provided with a groove and a slot, an arm pivoted in said i groove, a latch pivoted at the end of said 1 arm and adapted to engage a shoulder in said 1 slot, a spring on each arm to hold the latch I outward, and means for preventing the latch and arm from moving beyond a fixed limit.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my t name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE M. SOMMER. 

